Title: A Wonderful Correspondence between Pierre la Mure, the Author of "Moulin Rouge", and Producer Jean Dalrymple, Consisting of 10 Letters, Including 2 by John Woolf, the British Film Producer of "Oliver", "the African Queen", and the Earlier Film Production of "Moulin Rouge".
Description: Los Angeles, California, 1968 & 1969. 1968 & 1969. - A wonderful, and increasingly caustic, correspondence between the author Pierre La Mure and producer Jean Dalrymple regarding production of a theatrical production of a musical based on his novel "Moulin Rouge" about the life of the French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. The correspondence consists of 4 typed letters signed by Pierre La Mure with retained copies of 3 of Jean Dalrymple's letters to La Mure, together with 2 typed letters signed by the British film producer of the 1952 movie of "Moulin Rouge" John Woolf, together with a retained copy of another of his letters to Jean Dalrymple and the retained copy of a letter from Jean Dalrymple to Woolf. La Mure has penned occasional corrections in red ink within the text of his letters and Jean Dalrymple subsequently drew a diagonal red line through La Mure's and Woolf's letters indicating she'd read and dealt with them. All the letters are in very good to fine condition. A wonderful correspondence which provides insight into the thoughts of those involved in attempting to stage a theatrical production of the musical. The novel was the basis for a major film produced by John Woolf and directed by John Huston in 1952. It is interesting to note that La Mure belittles Jose Ferrer, a close friend of Jean Dalrymple, for his performance in "The Man of La Mancha" as Ferrer starred as Toulouse Lautrec in the film.
Following is a chronological description of the correspondence:
1) August 25, 1968. An approximately 300 word 1 - 1/4 page typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on personal letterhead signed "Pierre". Pierre la Mure writes to producer Jean Dalrymple that Romulus Films and United Artists are willing to release their rights for a percentage and allow a musical to be made based on Moulin Rouge. La Mure finds himself "in the position of G.B. Shaw in relation to 'My Fair Lady' - and I should like to know what percentage did the Shaw estate get out of My Fair Lady." He complains that time is being wasted on unnecessary negotiations. He says that it is simply a matter of writing "the book of a musical. (I have the draft of one which I wrote for myself and which doesn't infringe on the film at all.)".
2) August 28, 1968. A one-page retained carbon copy of a letter from Jean Dalrymple to Pierre La Mure. Dalrymple writes that Herman Levin will let La Mure know the percentage paid to the Shaw estate for Pygmalion. She emphasizes that she could have done a much better job herself than Paul Kohner has done on the musical negotiations.
3) February 20, 1969. An approximately 300 word typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on personal letterhead signed "P". La Mure writes that he agrees with Dalrymple that Richard Rodgers "would give much prestige to the production." But he adds that "Lowe (of My Fair Lady)..would even be better, I think". He tells her to forget about the French composer George Auric. "He probably looks down on him [Rodgers]..And I don't think his music is very good anyway." (Auric was the composer of the music for the 1952 John Huston film of Moulin Rouge.) La Mure then makes an impassioned plea for the actor Charles Aznavour: "But I plead with you to consider Aznavour. Every fiber in my body tells it would be a bull's eye..He was born to be Lautrec." Along the left margin of the letter La Mure writes a footnote: "Let me know what Wasserman says?". Evidently Dale Wasserman was being considered for writing the book for the Moulin Rouge musical. Wasserman is best known for having written the book for "The Man of La Mancha".
4) February 26, 1969. A two-page retained carbon copy of a letter from Jean Dalrymple to Pierre La Mure. Dalrymple writes that her "session" with Dale Wasserman was disappointing. Wasserman felt that Moulin Rouge is "too close in feeling, atmosphere and locale" to Montmartre, the musical he is currently working on. She says she will approach Neil Simon who "turned SWEET CHARITY from a disaster - when it opened out of town - into a hit." She also suggests Frank Loesser: "I have produced most of Mr. Loesser's hits..and if he believed in Moulin Rouge he'd do a masterly job of it..Loesser is almost as prestigious as Richard Rodgers..and actually more talented."
5) April 7, 1969. A one-page retained carbon copy of a letter from Jean Dalrymple to Pierre La Mure. Dalrymple writes that Frank Loesser had discussed Moulin Rouge with La Mure years ago and "reluctantly turned it down." However he would now reconsider it but he is "not at all well".
6) April 22, 1969. An approximately 60 word typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on Romulus Films Ltd letterhead signed "John" by the producer John Woolf. Woolf thanks Dalrymple for her cable congratulating him on his Best Picture Academy Award for his film "Oliver". He inquires about an April 2 letter he sent her regarding Moulin Rouge.
7) June 2, 1969. A one-page retained carbon copy of a letter from Jean Dalrymple to John Woolf. Dalrymple asks Woolf for a copy of the screenplay for Moulin Rouge on behalf of Joe Darion, the Tony Award winning lyricist of "The Man of La Mancha". Darion is evidently planning to write the book for the Moulin Rouge musical. She mentions that her butler, David Daniels, once worked for Woolf as his valet.
8) June 6, 1969. An approximately 100 word typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on Romulus Films Ltd letterhead signed "John" by the producer John Woolf. Woolf writes to Dalrymple sending along a copy of his April 2 letter which was somehow lost in the shuffle. He says that he is happy to send along a copy of the Moulin Rouge script.
9) August 18, 1969. An approximately 250 word typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on personal letterhead signed "Pierre". La Mure is surprised, and clearly peeved, that "Mr Joe Darion is writing a libretto of Moulin Rouge". He points out that Dalrymple has no option on the property and "it perhaps would be a good idea to come to some business arrangement on this matter, don't you think?". He writes a lengthy postscript in part concerning a production he saw of "The Man of La Mancha" starring Jose Ferrer "who, I thought, was very bad in it". The slight against Ferrer may well be deliberate as Ferrer was a close friend of Dalrymple. She affectionately referred to him as one of her 3 Joses, the other two being Jose Iturbi and Jose Serebrier. La Mure goes on to attack Joe Darion: "Frankly I am not terribly impressed by his anguish over 'the physical problem' of Toulouse Lautrec, Why doesn't he go to a library and get a photograph of Lautrec. Rather simple, don't you think?..".
10) September 29, 1969. An approximately 240 word typed letter to Jean Dalrymple on personal letterhead signed "Pierre", with the original envelope. In this letter La Mure brings the matter of a Moulin Rouge musical to a close. "Please, do not suspect me of hidden motives and do not try to match your feminine intuitiveness with my words. I simply say what I mean and mean what I say. Therefore believe me when I assure you that I am not 'angry' with you..I certainly am not 'most angry' as you say, because you don't like my outline of a Moulin Rouge musicale." He concludes his correspondence by stating that he is offering the dramatic rights to Moulin Rouge for sale on the open market. "Should you and your associates be interested in the property, nothing would please me more. You then would be able to proceed without any interference from me". He finishes by asking for the return of his manuscripts.
Perhaps best remembered for his 1950 novel "Moulin Rouge" about the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec the French author Pierre La Mure (1909-1976) also wrote the novel "Beyond Desire" about the life of Cecile and Felix Mendelssohn and "Claire de Lune", based on the life of Claude Debussy. His novel "Moulin Rouge" was made into a film of the same name directed by John Huston in 1952.
The British movie producer John Woolf (1913-1999) founded the company "Romulus Films" with his brother James in 1948. Although he was mocked for it with comments such as "Two old people going up and down an African river .. who's going to be interested in that?", Woolf put up half the money for "The African Queen" starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn. The movie was a huge success. Woolf also produced John Huston's film of "Moulin Rouge" as well as "Oliver" for which he received an Academy Award.
Jean Dalrymple (1902-1998) was the dynamic producer and director of theater and light-opera at Manhattan's City Center. Dalrymple began her career in Vaudeville, appearing with James Cagney and Cary Grant in the early 1930s. She was a founding member of the American Theatre Wing, the theatre service organization. She worked over the years as a personal manager for the likes of Leopold Stokowski, Mary Martin, Jos Iturbi, Andre Kostalanetz, Nathan Milstein, and Lily Pons. She began her work at City Center with its founding in 1943, serving as a board member and publicist. Her productions there from the 1940s through the 1960s were a revitalizing influence on the whole New York theatre scene. In 1951, Jean Dalrymple married Major-General Philip deWitt Ginder, commander of the Thunderbirds in Korea. She was a friend to Presidents and entertainment personalities throughout the world. Very good .
Keywords: THEATRE; FILM; STAGE; MUSICAL; MOULIN ROUGE; JEAN DALRYMPLE; PIERRE LA MURE; AUTHOR; HENRI DE TOULOUSE-LAUTREC; FRENCH ARTIST; BIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL; JOHN WOOLF; TYPED LETTERS SIGNED; AUTOGRAPH; SIGNATURE; CORRESPONDENCE; TWENTIETH CENTURY; CINEMA; THEATER;
- Book number: 97206
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